Star students help make wishes come true for children’s charity

Performing Arts students from New College Lanarkshire are celebrating raising more than £5,000 for children’s charity When You Wish Upon A Star.

The New CLan Arts team has supported the wish-making charity for the last four years through performing at events and donating proceeds from programme sales.

In the last academic year, the team raised £1,037.68 for the charity – which now brings the total raised since they started their efforts to £5,346.13.

When You Wish Upon A Star is dedicated to granting the wishes of children aged 2–16 with life-threatening illnesses, and has since 1990 granted more than 17,500 wishes across the UK.

A group of New CLan Arts students recently handed over a cheque to Judith King, the charity’s Scotland Regional Fundraiser.

Lecturer and production assistant Rowen Letham said: “We produce on average 18 productions a year, and all our programme sales from each production go to the charity.

“We are great advocates of the work When You Wish does, and our staff and students have been lucky enough to meet some of the amazing families whose lives are affected by many different illnesses.

“The money we raise helps to grant the wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses.

“We are honoured to represent this charity and continue to build the wonderful relationship we have.”

Performing Arts students from New College Lanarkshire have performed at the charity’s annual Snow Ball held at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.

They have also previously accompanied sick children on a Polar Express-themed train trip to see Santa at Glamis Castle and at Prestwick Airport to welcome families back from Lapland.

Judith King from the charity said: “The students’ help is invaluable, not only financially, but also as volunteers who regularly sing and perform at our events all over Scotland.

“They are all incredibly talented and professional and it continues to be an absolute pleasure having each and every one of them very much a part of the Scotland Wish team.

“With lots of music, dance and laughter in abundance, their wonderful performances help all our children, together with their families, to forget about their worries and illnesses for the day and for that we are eternally grateful.

“We look forward to working with the Performing Arts team again this year and into our exciting 30th birthday year in 2020 – we have some wonderful events planned and the students will be heavily involved.”